Lacing cutter



Feb. 24, 1959 w; SCOTT 2,874,774

LACING CUTTER Filed Aug. :5, 1955 ZSheeCs-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

.Bks $6077 147702/VEVS.

7 Feb. 24, 1959 w, sco 2,874,774

v LACING CUTTER Fil ed Aug. 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a) v INVENTOR. f f63 J84? W 56077 3% MIX,

United States Patent LA'CING CUTTER Ray W. Scott, Los Angeles, Calif.Application August 3, 1955, Serial No. 526,259

6 Claims. (Cl. 164-37) This invention relates to apparatus for cutting acontinuous strip from a disc of material to provide, for example,leather lacing necessary in leather craft.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple apparatus forperforming a precise special cutting operation whereby lacing of uniformwidth is obtained. This is made possible by a novel mechanism forsimultaneously rotating the disc and moving it laterally in a directionnormal to the axis of rotation and toward a relatively stationarycutter. Advancement of the axis of the disc is at a rate proportional toangular movement of the disc, whereby the mechanism metes out themathematical criterion for a uniform spiral.

It is another object of this invention to provide in combination withapparatus of this character a winding mechanism provided with simplecontrols so that the winding mechanism properly takes up the lacingwithout imposing any undue tension on the lacing.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter that appropriately oppositely bevels the edges of the lacingas a part of a continuous operation. For this purpose, the elementcutting the spiral from the disc is appropriately inclined to providethe appropriate bevel for the edge of the lacing then cut, and a secondcutting or shaving element shapes the opposite side of the lacing.

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus ofthis character that incorporates novel controls whereby operation of thewinder and driving mechanism for the cutter is appropriately stoppedwhen the cutting operation is completed on the material. The controlsalso cause operation of the mechanism to be promptly halted in the eventthat the lacing breaks, such as might be due to imperfections in thematerial. Splicing of the lacing is thereby facilitated, and operationscan promptly be resumed.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of thischaracter that is readily modified and adjusted to provide any desiredlacing width,

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus ofthis character that facilitates maintenance and that utilizes standardcutting elements that can easily be replaced.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of oneembodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that thisdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of apparatus incorporating the presentinvention for cutting lacing from a disc;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken along the planeindicated by line 2-2 of Fig. l;

ICC

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken along the plane indicatedby line 33 of Fig. 2, and showing the mechanism for advancing the disc;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views, taken along planes indicated by lines44 and 5-5 of Fig. 2, and illustrating the cutting element of theapparatus;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the plane indicated byline 6-6 of Fig. l, and showing the driving mechanism cooperating withthe lacing, and further illustrating the shaving operation performed onone edge of the lacing to achieve appropriate beveled configuration;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken along the plane indicatedby line 7-7 of Fig. 6, and showing a guide for the lacing at the shavingelement;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 8-8of Fig. 6, and showing a control switch responsive to tension in thelacing that is operative to deenergize the winder and driving structurein the event that the lacing breaks or ends;

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views diagrammaticallyillustrating the manner in which the appropriately oppositely beveledconfiguration is imparted to the lacing; and

Fig. 11 is a schematic wiring diagram forming a part of the apparatus.

The disc 11 from which the lacing is cut rests upon a base or table 10.The base 10 also supports the cutting, driving, winding and advancingmechanism.

The disc 11 is shown in the process of being cut into lacing 12. Acutting element 13 (Fig. 2), which may be a standard single-edged razorblade, cooperates with the disc 11, the cutting element being heldstationary while the disc is rotated and advanced with respect to theblade 13 in order to achieve a uniform spiral cut.

For supporting the disc 11 for rotation and advancement, a plate 14 isprovided that is connected to the disc 11. The plate 14 is guided forrectilinear movement in a direction parallel to the plane of the supportIt). For this purpose, the opposite edges of the plate 14 are guided inopposed grooves 16 formed in the respective walls of an elongate slot 15of the support. The slot 15 extends inwardly from a side edge of thesupport 10, and the cutting element 13 projects from above into the endof the slot with the edge of the cutting element oriented to extendobliquely of the slot 15, as shown in Fig. 2.

For mounting the disc 11, the plate 14 has a bearing boss 17 receiving aspindle 13 that rotatably mounts the disc at its center. For thispurpose, the upper end of the spindle 18 projects through a centralaperture 19 of the disc 11, and a nut 20, cooperable with the upper endof the spindle 18, clamps the edge of the disc aperture 19 against anintermediate flange 21 formed on the spindle 18. The parts are soproportioned and located that the upper surface of the flange 21,against which the disc 11 is held, is substantially coplanar with theupper surface of the support 10 upon which the disc 11 rests.

The mechanism thus far described provides a rotary mounting for the disc11 in which the axis of the rotary mounting may be translated toward thecutting element 13 in order to achieve the appropriate spiral cut.

The cutting element 13 is held in a slot or groove 22 formed in thesloping end surface 23 (Fig. 5) of a supporting block 24 secured to thesupport 10. The end of the block 24 holding the cutting element 13 isundercut, as at 25, to permit passage of the marginal portions of thedisc 11 beyond the cutting element 13 whereby a strip may be cut fromthe disc. The cutting element 13 is removably held in place by aclamping bracket 26 that provides a surface bearing against the exposedlateral surface of the cutting element 13.

The operative edge of the cutting element 13 is addressed in atangential direction with respect to the disc 11. That intermediateportion of the cutting element 13 located at the undercut portion 25 isoperative to cut the disc 11, the element 13 projecting substantially beyond the disc 11 and into the slot 15.

In order to achieve a spiral cut of uniform pitch, the advancement ofthe axis of rotation of the disc 11 toward element 13 must be directlyrelated to the angular movement thereof. For this purpose, it is theangular move ment of the disc 11 that causes advancement of the plate.Angular movement of the disc causes angular movement of a pulley wheel30 supported on the plate 14, the wheel 30 being in driving engagementwith a steel wire 27. The wire 27 extends below the disc 11 along thelength of the slot 15 and is anchored at its ends. At an intermediateportion of the wire, a loop is formed to extend in driving relationshipwith the wheel 30. For anchoring the wire 27, a post 31, locatedadjacent the outer end of the-slot 15, secures one end thereof, and acapstan 32 (Fig. 2), located beyond the supporting block 24, is providedfor the other end thereof.

The wheel 30 is secured on the upper end of a shaft 33 that is journaledin a bearing boss 34 carried by the plate 14 adjacent the mounting meansfor the disc 11. The wire 27 flexes downwardly for cooperation with thewheel 30, the wheel 30 being located just below the upper surface of thesupport in the slot 15. The lower 'end of the shaft 33 mounts a spurgear 29 (Fig. 3) that engages a pinion 28 carried at the lower end ofthe spindle 18 upon which the disc 11 is mounted. The wheel 30,accordingly, is coupled to the disc 11. Angular movement of the wheel 30causes advancement of the plate 14, and the mathematical criterion for aspiral cut of uniform pitch is achieved.

The capstan 32 is yieldingly restrained against angular movement so thatit may be normally operative to hold the wire 27 tightly wrapped aboutthe pulley wheel 30. For this purpose, the shank 32a of the capstan 32provides a shoulder 32b bearing tightly against a washer 70. The washer70 is located in a recess or counterbore 71 at the upper side of thesupport 10 aligned with the aperture 72 through which the shank 32aextends. A nut 73, secured to the end of the shank 32a, locates a washer74 with respect to the capstan shank 32a. resilient friction member 75is interposed between and compressed by the washer 74 and the lowersurface of the support 10. The resilience of the member 75 transmits adownward longitudinal force on the shank 32a and determines the force ofinterengagement between the shoulder 32b and the washer 70. Accordingly,the frictional restraint on the capstan 32 is determined by adjustmentof the nut 73 to vary the extent of compression of the resilient member75. The nut 73 is held in place by a lock screw (not shown).

To start the cutting operation, the disc 11 is mounted upon the spindle18. The capstan 32 is turned in a direction to release the Wire 27 fromdriving contact with the wheel 30, and the disc 11 is advanced until itsedge is adjacent the cutting element 13. The capstan 32 is then turnedin a direction to cause driving engagement between the wire 27 and thewheel 30. The disc 11 is rotated by hand until a starting length oflacing is cut. A bar 76 (Fig. 1), extending substantially diametricallyacross the upper surface of the disc and having a portion locatedadjacent the cutting element 13, holds the disc flat so that anyinherent warping of the disc does not interfere with the appropriatecutting of lacing of uniform width.

A driving mechanism engages the lacing just cut to rotate the disc 11 ina cutting direction. The mechanism is shown to best advantage in Figs. 1and 6. The lacing '12 is passed between driving rollers 35 and 36 thatare arranged so that their axes are horizontal and parallel to thesupport 10. As shown'in Fig. l, the driving An apertured 2,874,774. I IV 4 rollers 35 and 36 are located substantially along a tangent line tothe disc 11 extending from the cutting element 13 so that no tearingforces are exerted on the material as it is being cut.

The lower driving roller 35 is mounted upon the end of a shaft 37. Thisshaft is journaled in a bracket 38 secured upon the support 10. Theopposite end of the shaft 37 mounts a friction wheel 39 engageable withthe shaft 40 of a fractional horsepower motor 41. The upper drivingwheel 36 is rotatably mounted upon a yoke 42 that is pivotally mountedon the bracket 38 by a pin 43. A compression spring 44, engaging afinger piece or arm 45 secured to the yoke 42, urges the yoke in adirection corresponding to movement of the upper roller 36 toward thelower driving roller 35. Manual deflection of the finger piece 45against action of the spring 44 serves to separate the driving rollers35 and 36 so that the lacing 12 can be inserted between them.

The lacing 12 passes about the upper driving wheel 36 to a spool 46mounted upon a winding mechanism generally designated at 47 (Fig. l).The winding mechanism 47 and the driving rollers 35 and 36 are thensimultaneously operated. A separate fractional horsepower motor (notshown) serves to operate the Winding mechanism 47. As the lacing iswound upon the spool 46, the

increasing diameter of the material on the spool tends to take up thelacing at a rate increasing with respect to that determined by thedriving rollers 35 and 36. In order to ensure that the lacing is takenup by the spool 46 at a rate on the average corresponding precisely tothat caused by the driving rollers 35 and 36, special provisions, to bepresently described, are provided in the energization circuit of themotor 48.

The energization circuits for the motors 41 and 48 are diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 11. Connections 49 and 50 may cooperate with theusual prong type connector (not shown). 'The energization circuit forthe motor 41 can be traced as follows: connection 49, lead 51, manuallycontrolled switch 52, motor 41, lead 53, a common connection 54, and aninterrupter switch 55 (to be later described), to the return connection50. The energization circuit for the winding motor 48 parallels thecircuit for the driving motor 41. It can be traced as follows: lead 56,manually controlled switch 57, motor 48, speed control network 58, limitswitch 59 (to be later described), lead 60, to the common return lead54, interrupter switch 55, to the return connection 50.

The speed control network 58 includes two parallel branches comprisingresistors 61 and 62. The resistor 61 is always in circuit relationshipwith the motor 48. The resistor 62 is inserted in circuit relationshipwith the motor and in shunt relationship with the other resistor 61 onlywhen a predetermined slack exists in the lacing between the drivingrollers 35 and 36 and the take-up spool 48.

When the resistors 61 and 62 are both in circuit with the motor, theresistance in the motor circuit is small, and the motor 48 tends tooperate rapidly to take up the slack in the lacing. The combinedresistance of the resistors 61 and 62 is sufliciently small that thelacing slack can be fully taken up by the spool 46 even when theeffective diameter of the lacing on the spool is at a When the slack inthe lacing sufliciently diminishes, the resistor 62 is cut out ofcircuit relationship with the motor 48, and only the resistor 61 isoperative. The motor is slowed down until the slack reaches the criticalvalue. The resistance of the resistor 61 is sufliciently large that theslack will be increased even when the elfective diameter of the lacingon the spool 46 is at a maximum.

In order to provide a mechanism responsive to the tension in the lacing,a circuit controller 63 associated with the resistor 62 is operated inaccordance with the slack in the lacing. For this purpose, a lever arm64 that is located substantially beneath a plane including the opposedelements of the driving rollers 35 and 36 and the axis of r u the spool46, :is provided. An eye 65 located at the end of the lever 64 receivesthe lacing 12. The arm 64 is hingedly mounted on a block 66 for angularmovement about a horizontal axis. A leaf spring 67 carried by the block66 urges'the eye 65 downwardly so that the angular position of the armcorresponds to the slack in the lacing. The circuit controller 63 islocated beneath the arm 64, and is operated to increase the speed of themotor if the slack exceedsa critical value, and is operated to decreasethe motor speed if the slack is less than the critical value. The slackin the lacing accordingly is held within close limits.

The block 66, mounting the arm 64, and the circuit controller 63 arerotatable in unison about a vertical axis so that theeye 65 can followthe lacing 12 as it traverses across the spool 46. Advancement of thedisc 11 is automatically stopped when the disc .is almost completelyexhausted. For this purpose, a block 65 (Fig. 2) located in the supportopening 15 and immediately in advance of the ,cuttingelement 13, formsan abutment in the path of movement of the plate 14. When the plate 14engages the block 65, the pulley wheel 30 slips with respect to the wire27. The spiral cut accordingly terminates in a small circular-cut aboutthe disc aperture 19.

Arrival of the plate 14 to the limited position also causes operation"of the winding mechanism 47 to cease. For this purpose, the limitswitch 59 is mounted upon the abutment block 65. An arm 59a of the limitswitch 59 normally engages the contact of another arm 59b to main- :tainthe circuit for'th'e motor 48 as shown in Fig. 11. The arm 59a is in thepath of movement of the plate 14 and is moved away from the opposite arm59b just as the plate 14 moves toward its limited position. The platecarries an insulator 99 that is interposed between the plate 14 and thearm 59a.

Although the winding mechanism is stopped by the switch 59, the drivingrollers 35 and 36 continue to operate until the end of the lacing isformed. The driving motor 41 is deenergized by the interrupter switch55, which is shown to best advantage in Figs. 6 and 8. The interrupterswitch 55 is biased so that it normally is in circuit opening position,but it is maintained in circuit closing position by, the tension in thelacing 12. Thus, when the lacing ends or if a fracture occurs in thelacing for'any reason, the interrupter switch 55 opens, and energizationof both motor circuits is interrupted (Fig. 11).

The switch 55 comprises a pair of generally parallel, verticallyjuxtaposed, flexible strips 77 and 78 that are insulatedly mounted upona block 79 that is secured to the support 10. The upper strip 77, unlessrestrained, assumes aposition in which the contacts 80 and 81 carried bythe strips are separated. A. U-shaped arm 82, carried by the upperstrip, is engaged by the lacing 12 immediately in advance of the:driving rollers '35 and 36. The tension in the lacing, acting throughthe arm 82, urges the upper strip 77 downwardly into contacting orcircuit closing relationship.

In order to provide an inward bevel of the edges of the lacing from thefinished side thereof, the edge of the cutting element 13 is located inan appropriately inclined plane. The end surface of the block 24,against which the cutting element 13 is held, is in a plane inclined toa line radial to the disc 11. The cutting element 13, as shown in Fig.9, appropriately bevels one edge 12a of the lacing 12. The opposite edge12b, which was cut on the preceding turn of the disc, is beveledinappropriately, however. To finish this edge 1212, a shaving element 83(Figs. 1, 6 and 7) is provided. The shaving element 83 is oriented withits edge extending horizontally and is addressed in the direction ofmovement of the lacing 12. It is mounted in a recess 84 on the topsurface 85 of a mounting block 86 and is held in position by a bracket87 similar to the bracket 26.

The lacing 12 is guided for movement so that a triangular segment is cutfrom the edge 12b as the lacing iii) passes beyond the shaving element83. For this purpose, a hooked guide 88 is provided. It is 'held againstan inclined rest 89 formedby an inwardly offset portion 90a of theforward wall 90. One side of the guide 88 enters a slot 89a formed alongthe inner side of the rest 89. The guide 88 of the block 86 has adownwardly turned hooked end 91 through which the lacing 12 is threaded.The hooked end is located just above and in advance of the shavingelement 83, and holds the lacing 12 in a slightly twisted position andfiat against the inclined guide 88. The edge 12a, provided appropriatelyby the main cutting element 13, is seated at the seat of the hook, withthe finished side of the lacing engaging the shank of the guide 88. Theorientation of the guide 88 is such as to provide an appropriateangularity between the lacing edge 12b and the shaving element 83. Thetop surface of the block 86 immediately forward of the shaving edge 83is appropriately notched, as at 92 (Figs. 6 and 7), to expose theelement 83 to the lacing 12. Accordingly, appropriate finishing of theedge 12b is accomplished.

The triangular segment shaved from the edge 12b of the lacing 12 passesdownwardly through aligned openings 93 and 94 (Fig. 6) in the block 86and the support The position of the hooked guide 88 can be adjusted inorder that the edge of lacing of various widths can be properly locatedwith respect to the shaving element 83. A clamping screw 97 bearsagainst the hooked guide 88 to hold the guide in adjusted position. Athreaded post 99, attached to surface a, mounts the lock screw 97 forproviding a clamping action as the screw is turned in the support 99.

In order to ensure that the appropriate edge 12b is operated upon by theshaving element 83, an inclined J length of the shank of the guide asmay be necessary or desirable.

In order to cut lacing of different widths, the pulley 30 may be removedand a pulley of ditierent size accommodated, or, optionally, an entireplate 14 with its associated parts may be substituted.

In operation, the limit switch 59 causes operation of the windingmechanism to cease. The tension sensing or interrupter switch 55 causesoperation of the driving rollers .35 and 36 to cease. In the event thatfracture .7 of the lacing occurs prior to completion of the cuttingoperation, the tension sensing or interrupter switch 55 causes operationboth of the winding mechanism and the driving rollers 35 and 36 tocease. A splice may quickly be made and operation resumed. To achieve aresumption in operation, the spliced lacing may be appropriatelyrethreaded through the apparatus.

Since the actual cutting of the lacing is dependent upon the continuityof lacing, it is ensured that the lacing cannot be out without beingappropriately wound up.

The inventor claims:

1. In apparatus for spirally cutting material into lacing, or the like:a support; means for holding a cutting element on the support; a membermovable along the support toward the holding means and having provisionsfor rotatably mounting material to be cut; means cooperable with thestrip of material cut for rotating the material; transmission meanscapable of slipping for advancing the member toward the holding means inaccordance with the angular movement of the material; and abutment meansforming a limit to advancement of the number and causing thetransmission to slip, thereby terminating the strip by a circular cut ofthe material.

2. Iii-apparatus for spirally cutting material into lacing, or the like:a support; means for holding a cutting element on the support; a memberguided for rectilinear movement toward the holding means; means mountingthe material to be cut on the member for angular move ment about an axistransverse to the direction of movement of the member; a rotary elementmovable in accordance with the angular movement of the material, andcarried by the member; a lead wire extending along the path of movementof the rotary element, and looped thereabout; and releasable means fortensioning the wire for causing the wire frictionally to grip the rotaryelement, release of the tensioning means permitting rapid movement ofthe guided member.

3. In a device for performing a spiral cut in material of disc form: acutting element; a movable mounting for material to be cut, andincluding means for advancing the material in accordance with angularmovement thereof; means forming a limit to advancement of the materialwithout limiting angular movement thereof; driving rollers for thematerial cut; a motor for the driving rollers; a winding mechanism forthe material cut; a

motor for the winding mechanism; and an energization circuit for eachmotor, including a common control element adjacent said advancing meansand responsive to the existence of a discontinuity in the material cutfor interrupting energization of the motors, a speed regulating networkin circuit relationship with the Winding mechanism motor having acontrol element responsive to the tension in the lacing to regulate thespeed of the winding mechanism motor, and circuit controlling meansoperated upon arrival of the material to the limited position forinterrupting energization of the winding mechanism motor.

4. In apparatus for beveling an edge of leather lacing, or the like: amember having a cutting edge; a holder for the member; a guide having ashank provided with a transversely extending end against which one edgeof the lacing is adapted to abut; the shank providing a surface againstwhich one side of the lacing is adapted'to engage; a support immediatelyin advanceof the cutting edge and having a surface inclined to thelength of the edge; the shank engaging the inclined surface; the surfacebeing so located that a portion of the shank adjacent the transverselyextending end is aligned with the edge, adjustment of the position ofthe shank along the surface locating successive portions of the shank inalignment with the cutting edge; releasable means for clamping the shankagainst the surface; and means for guiding the lacing so that it engagesthe transversely extending end with one side of the lacing engaging theshank.

5. In apparatus for beveling an edge of leather lacing,

or the like: a member having a cutting edge; aholder for the member; aguide having a shank provided with a transversely extending end againstwhich one edge ofthe lacing is adapted to abut; the shank'providing;a-surface against which one side of the lacing is adapted to engage; asupport immediately in advance of the cutting edge and having a surfaceinclined to the length of the edge; the shank engaging the inclinedsurface; the surface being so located that a portion of theshankadjacent the transversely extending end is aligned with the edge,adjustment of the position of the shank along the surface locatingsuccessive portions of the shank in alignment with the cutting edge;releasable means for clamping the shank against the surface; and a postin advance of the shank and substantially parallel thereto, and havingan adjustable nut threadedly engageable. with the post for orienting thelacing before engaging the shank.

6. In apparatus for spirally cutting material into lacing, or the like:a support; means for holding a cutting element on the support; a memberguided for rectilinear movement toward the holding means; means mountingthe material to be cut on the member for angular movement about an axistransverse to the direction of movement of the member; a rotary elementmovable in accordance with the angular movement of thematerial, andcarried by the member; a lead wire extending along the path of movementof the rotary element, and looped thereabout; a capstan for tensioningthe wirefor causing References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS,

115,949 Foster June 13, 1871 435,381 Rohrmoser Aug. 26, 1890 524,767Randall Aug. 21,- 1894 526,230 Howe Sept. 18,1894 526,617 Druschky Sept.25, 1894 680,927 Krom Aug. 20, 1901 874,102 Merrick Dec. 17,' 19071,265,329 Henderson May 7, 1918 1,495,960 Merrick -n May 27, 19241,942,365 Rozier Jan. 2, 1934 2,097,142 Borton Oct. 26, 1937 2,227,355Lawson Dec. 31, 1940 2,353,639 Berthold July 18, 1944 2,419,518Eichinger Apr. 22, 1947 2,553,335 Scott May 15, 1951 r 2,685,950 DembyAug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 26, 1905

